11beta-hydroxy-17alpha-methyl-1-dehydrotes-tosterone, and the 11beta, 17beta-diacylates thereof



United States Patent 11/8 HYDROXY-17a-METHYL -1- DEHYDROTES- TOSTERONE, AND THE 115,17fi-DIACYLATES THEREOF Samuel H. Eppstein, Galesburg, Peter D. Meister, Kalamazoo Township, Kalamazoo County, Mich., and Adolph Weintraub, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignors to The Upjohn Company, Kalamazoo, Mich., a corporation of Michigan No Drawing. Application August 21, 1956 Serial No. 605,441

6 Claims. (Cl. 260397.45)

R cian wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and acyl, in which the acyl group is of an organic carboxylic acid, preferably of a hydrocarbon carboxylic acid containing from one to eight carbon atoms, inclusive.

The process of the present invention comprises: fermentative dehydrogenation of 1l/3-hydroxy-17u-methyltestosterone by a fungus of the genus Septomyxa, especially the species Septomym afiim's (Sherb), American Type Culture Collection Number 6737. The genus Septomyxa belongs to the class of Deuteromyces, Fungi imperfecti, of the order Melanconiales, of the family Melanconiaceae.

Esterification of the llfl-hydroxy group and tertiary 175-hydroxy may be accomplished by admixing 11phydroxy-17a-methyl-l-dehydrotestosterone with an acylating agent such as, for example, an acid anhydride or acid halide and heating at a temperature between about sixty degrees centigrade and the boiling point of the reaction mixture, usually not above 175 degrees centigrade. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the reaction mixture is kept at one hundred degrees centigrade in a water-bath for a period between about one hour and about 24 hours. In case an acid anhydride has been used the 1113,17fi-diacyloxy-l7amethyl-1,4-androstadiene-3-one is obtained. If acyl halides have been used mixtures of 1l;3,l7/8-diacyloxyl7a-methyl-1,4-androstadiene-3-one and the 3 enol acylates thereof are obtained. In this latter case mild hydrolysis at room temperature (-35 degrees centigrade) with a mineral acid, such as hydrochloric, chloric, or sulfuric acid gives the corresponding 115,17p-diacyloxy-17a-methyl-l,4-androstadiene 3 one (115 hydroxy-17u-methyl-l-dehydrotestosterone). The time of reaction as well as the temperature at which the reaction is carried out, the acylating agent and the ratio of reactants may be varied. The reaction mixture is suit- 2,864,832 Patented Dec. 16,

2 ably poured into ice or cold water, the product collected in an appropriate solvent which is thereafter washed with successive portions of a mildly basic solution in water to obtain a solution of the product which is essentially neutral.

In some instances the product may crystallize from the reaction mixture, in which case it may be advantageous to separate the product by filtration or other means, wash with water and thereafter purify by conventional means, such as, for example, by recrystallization from a suitable solvent or by chromatographic purification as deemed necessary.

It is an object of the present invention to provide 11B,l7fi-dihydroxy-17u-methyl-1,4-androstadiene 3-one (1lp-hydroxy-l7a-methyl-l-dehydrotestosterone) and the 115,17B-diesters thereof. It is a particular object of the present invention to provide 116,17/3-diacyloxy-17u- I methyl-1,4-androstadiene-3-one wherein the acyl radical is of a hydrocarbon carboxylic acid containing from one to eight carbon atoms, inclusive. Another object of the present invention is the provision of a process for the production of such steroids. Other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which this in vention pertains. 1

The compounds'of the instant invention llfl-hydroxy- 17a-methyl-1-dehydrotestosterone and the 115,17fl-diesters thereof are important anabolic reagents with relatively little androgenic activity. As oral anabolic reagents they have activity greater than that of methyltestosterone and androgenic activity lesser than methyltestosterone. They are therefore useful agents in the treatment of patients where greater protein-anabolic activity is desirable without simultaneous increase in androgenic activity. Oxidizing the llfi-hydroxy group of 11phydroxy-17a-methyl-1-dehydrotestosterone, illustratively with chromic anhydride, yields another anabolically active compound 11 keto-1-dehydromethyltestosterone. Other pharmaceutically active compounds can be prepared from 11fi-hydroxy-17u-methyl l dehydrotestosterone.

The starting materials in the instant application are 115,17B-dihydroxy-17m-methyl-4-androsten-3 one (115- hydroxy-17a-methyltestosterone) or esters thereof prepared by the method of Herr, U. S. Patent 2,735,854, issued February 21, 1956.

The following examples are illustrative of the process and products of the present invention, but are not to be construed as limiting.

EXAMPLE 1 11 ,17 dihydroxy 17a methyl 1,4 androstadien 3-0ne (115 hydroxy 17a methyl 1 dehydroteszosterone) Twelve liters of a medium containing one percent y cerelose, two percent corn steep liquor (containing sixty percent solids) and adjusted toa pH of 5 was sterilized by heating for 45 minutes at twenty pounds pressure in a fermenter. This cooled fermentation mixture was inoculated with a 24-hour vegetative growth from a spore inoculation of Septomyxa afiznis, aerated at 0.5 liter of air per minuted and stirred at 200 R. P. M. During the following 24 hours of growth, twenty milliliters of lard oil containing ten percent of octadecanol was added to reduce foaming. The pH was now 5.6. To this mixture two grams of llfl-hydroxy-lh-methyltestosterone, dissolved in twenty milliliters of hot absolute alcohol, was added and washed in with fifteen milliliters of alcohol. After an additional 24 hours for conversion, the fermentation was terminated. The pH was now ,723. Dilute sulfuric acid was added to the mixture to bring the .pH down to ,,3. Thereupon grams of Celite didegrees.

atomaceous earth was added and the beer was filtered. The mycelial cake was washed twice with one liter volume of acetone and twice with one liter volume of methylene chloride. .,These washings were vusedtor thefirst extraction or .thelbeerj'filtrate. The beer filtrate was washed three more times with two liter volumes of methylene chloride. The combined solvent extracts were washed twice with one liter volume of two percent sodium bicarbonate and once with two liters of water and finally driedwith anhydrous sodium sulfate. The solvent was then removed in vacuo. An aliquot, analyzed by paper chromatography, showed about one percent 11fl hydroxy-l'lu-methyltestosterone, .a large amount of 1lfl-hydroxy-l7a methyl-l-dehydrotestosterone and traces of a more polar product.

The extractives were triturated twice with four milliliter volumes of 'Skellysolve ,B hexanes, then four times with four-milliliter volumes of Skellysolve B hexanesether (4:1). The residue weighed 820 milligrams (41 percent yield).

This material was three times recrystallized from acetone to give needles of pure llfl-hydroxy-lh-methyll-dehydrotestosterone of'melting point 262 to 265 degrees centigrade and rotation plus forty degrees in chloroform;

Analysis.-Calcd. for C H O C, 75.91; H, 8.92.

Found: C, 75.74; H, 9.00.

In the same manner as shown in Example 1, 11B- hydroxy-17a-methyl-1-dehydrotestosterone is obtained by submitting 1lB-hydroxy-17a-methyltestosterone to microblal l -dehydrogenation with other species of the genus Septomyxasuch as Septomyxa aesculi, Septomyxa corni,

Septomyxa salicinaand Septomyxa tulasuei.

Instead of the 1lfi-hydroxy-17a-methyltestosterone, monoor 'di-esters of this compound may be used as starting product yieldingby,simultaneous hydrolysisi the unesterified final product, 11,3-hydroxy-17m-methy1- l-dehydrotestosterone.

EXAMPLE 2 1 Ifl-hydroxy-J 7a-methyl-1-dehydr0tesl0ster0ne 115,175- diacetate A solution of 0.2 gramof 1lfl-hydroxy-lh-methyl-ldehydrotestosterone, dissolved in five milliliters of acetic ethyl acetate-acetone solution repeatedly to give 111.?-

hydroxy-17a-methyl-l-dehydrotestosterone 115,17fl-diacetate.

EXAMPLE 3 1 lfl-hydroxy-l 7a-methyl-1-dehydrotestoster0ne 115,175-

dipropionate A solution of 0.2 gram of llfi-hydroxy-flu-methyl-l- .dehydrotestosterone in five milliliters of propionic anhydride was heated for six hours on the water bath at 100 The mixture was thereupon distilled in vacuo until one milliliter of solution remained which was then admixed with ice water, the precipitate, thus formed, collected on filter and recrystallized from methanol to give 113 hydroxy 17a methyl 1 dehydrotestosterone 115,175-dipropionate.

ExAMPLE 4 llp'hydroxy-l 7a-methyl-1-dehydrotestosterone 1 1 18,] 7sdibenzoate A solution of 0.5 gram of 1LB-hydroxy-lh-methylddehydrotestosterone in five milliliters of benzoyl chloride was heated on the water bath for a period of eight hours at degrees. The mixture was thereupon distilled in vacuo until a residue of approximately one milliliter remained in the flask. This residue was transferred into ice water, stirred and the thus obtained precipitate collected on the filter. This precipitate (containing the 3-benzoyl enolate of llB-hydroxy-Ua-methyll-dehydrotestosterone 11;8,17fl-dibenzoate, was thereupon transferred into a solution of twenty milliliters of methanol, four milliliters of water and one milliliter of concentrated hydrochloric acid. This mixture was stirred for a period of two hours, then neutralized with sodium bicarbonate solution, heated on the water bath to elimimate the major portion of methanol and poured thereupon into fifty milliliters of water. After cooling the aqueous mixture was extracted with three ZS-milliliter portions of methylene chloride, the combined methylene chloride extracts were washed with water, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated. The resulting residue from this evaporation was recrystallized from acetone-Skellysolve B hexanes to give 11fl-hydroxy-17amethyl-l-dehydrotestosterone 11 5,17,8-dibenzoate.

EXAMPLE 5 1 Ifl-hydrOxy-I 7ot-methyl-1-delzydr0test0ster0ne '1 15,1 7,3-dibutyrate In the same manner given in Example 2, heating a solution of 1lB-hydroxy-17a-methyl-l-dehydrotestosterone in butyric anhydride produced 11fi-hydroxy-l7a-methyll-dehydrotestosterone 1 13,17fi-dibutyrate.

EXAMPLE 6 1 I 3-h ydroxy-l 7u-methyl-1-dehydr0test0ster0ne 115,1 7 B-d ivalerate In the same manner given in Example 2, heating a solution of 1lB-hydroxy-l7a-methyl-l-dehydrotestosterone in valeric anhydride produced llfl-hydroxy-l7a-methyll-dehydrotestosterone l1fi,17,3-divalerate.

ExAMPLE 7 IJB-hydroxy-J 7a-methyl-I-delzydrolesrosterone 116,] ZfiR-dihexanoare In the same manner given in Example 3, heating a solution of 11,8 hydroxy 17a methyl l dehydrotestosterone in hexanoic anhydride produced llfl-hydroxy 17a methyl l dehydrotestostcrone 115,175- dihexanoate.

EXAMPLE 8 In the same manner given in Example 4, heating a solution of 11/3 hydroxy 17a methyl 1 dehydrotestosterone withsuccinic anhydride in pyridine produced 116 --hydroxy 17a methyl l dehydrotestosterone 1113,175-di-(acid succinate).

EXAMPLE 9 In the same manner given in Example 4, heating a solution of lie-hydroxy 17a methyl l dehydrotestosterone with maleic anhydride in pyridine produced 11/3 hydroxy 17a methyl 1 dehydrotestosterone 11,13,17fl-di-(acid maleate).

EXAMPLE 1O 1IB-hydrOxy-I7a-methyl-1-dehydr0tesrosterone 115,17fl-di-(0ctanoate) In the same manner given in Example 4, heating a of llfl-hydroxy-l-dehydro-l7a-methyltestosterone in octanoyl chloride and'hydrolyzing the'thus obtained mixture with dilute hydrochloric acid solution at room temperature (about 22 to 25 degrees centigrade) yielded 1lfl-hydroxy-17u-methyl-1-dehydrotestosterone 11p,17p-di-(octanoate).

EXAMPLE 11 1 Ifl-hya'roxy-I 7a-methyl-1-dehydr0test0ster0ne 1 1,8,1 7B-di-( trimethylacetate) In the same manner given in Example 4, heating a solution of 1LB-hydroxy-17a-methyl-l-dehydrotestosterone in ,B-cyclopentylpropionyl chloride, and hydrolyzing the thus obtained mixture with sulfuric acid in aqueous ethanol at room temperature yielded 11/3-hydroxy-17a-methyl-1-dehydrotestosterone 1 1,8,17,8-(di-p-cyclopentylpropionate) EXAMPLE 12 JIfi-hydroxy-I7a-methyl-1-dehydr0testoster0ne 11,8,1 7,B-di- (p-cyclopentylpropionate) In the same manner given in Example 4, heating a solution of 1Iii-hydroxy-17a-methyl-1-dehydrotestosterone with trimethylacetyl chloride and pyridine and hydrolyzing the thus obtained mixture with hydrochloric acid solution at room temperature yielded 11 ,B-hydroxy-17a-methyl-l-dehydrotestosterone 1 1 3,17fi-di(-trimethylacetate) EXAMPLE 13 Hfi-hydroxy-I7u-methyl-1-dehydrotestoster0ne 1 113,1 7 fi-di-phenylacetate In the same manner given in Example 4, heating a solution of 1lfl-hydroxy-l7m-methyl-l-dehydrotestosterone in phenylacetyl chloride and hydrolyzing the thus obtained mixture with hydrochloric acid at room temperature yielded 1Iii-hydroxy-17a-methyl-l-dehydrotestosterone 1 1}8,17fi-di-phenylacetate.

ExAMPLE 14 1lp-hydroxy-l7a-methyl-1-dehydr0test0ster0ne 11,8,17fi-di-t0luenesulfonate 1 1 fi-hydroxy-l 7a-methyl-1-dehydrotestoster0ne 1113,17,8-di-phenylpr0pi0nate In the same manner given in Example 4, heating a solution of 1Iii-hydroxy-17u-methyl-l-dehydrotestosterone with phenylpropionyl chloride in pyridine and hydrolyzing the thus obtained mixture with methanolic hydrochloric acid at room temperature yielded llfi-hydroxy- 17a-methyl-l-dehydrotestosterone 1118,17p-di-phenylpropionate.

In the same manner as shown in Examples 2 through 15, heating a solution of 1IB-hydroxy-17a-methyl-1-dehydrotestosterone in an acid anhydride or respectively heating the steroid with an acid halide and hydrolyzing under mild conditions any 3-enolate present with a dilute mineral acid, produced other 1IB-hydroxy-l7ix-methyl-l-dehydrotestosterone 11B,17p-diacylates, for example, the 11,13,176 diisobutyrate, diisovalerate, diheptanoate, dichloroacetate, dibromoacetate, diiodoacetate, difluoroacetate, dinicotinate, di-(Z-furoate), dibenzenesulfonate, di-(ortho-, meta-, para-chlorobenZene-sulfonate) di-( 3,5 -dinitrobenzenesulfonate), di-( acid tartrate), or the like.

It is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact details of operation or exact compounds shown and described, as obvious modifications and equivalents will be apparent to one skilled in the art and the invention is therefore to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A compound of the formula:

OR ---OH wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and acyl in which the acyl group is of a hydrocarbon carboxylic acid containing from one to eight carbon atoms, inclusive.

2. 1 1 fl-hydroxy- 17a-methyll-dehydrotestosterone.

3. 11B hydroxy 17a methyl 1 dehydrotestosterone 11,18,175-diacetate.

4. 11/3 hydroxy 17oz methyl 1 dehydrotestosterone 1 1,8, 17fi-dipropionate.

5. hydroxy 17o: methyl 1 dehydrotestosterone 11}3,17,8-dibenzoate.

6. 11B hydroxy a methyl 1 dehydrotestosterone 1 1;3,17B-di-(/S-cyclopentylpropionate) References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,602,769 Murray July 8, 1952 2,658,023 Shull Nov. 3, 1953 2,695,907 Murray Nov. 30, 1954 2,697,110 Murray Dec. 14, 1954 2,703,806 Murray Mar. 8, 1955 2,735,854 Herr Feb. 21, 1956 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,864,832 December 1c, 1958 Samuel H. Eppstein et al.

It is hereby certified that error appearsin the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 5, line 7, Example 11, in the heading, for (tm'methy Zacetate) read (,B-cyalopentylpropionate); line 17 Example 12, for (,8-cyclopentylpropionate) rea -(t1 imethylacetate).

Signed and sealed this 2nd day of June 1959.-

[SEAL] Attest= KARL H. AXLINE, ROBERT C. WATSON, Attestz'ng Oficer. Commissioner of Patents. 

1. A COMPOUND OF THE FORMULA; 